Midwife toad

Midwife toad, slow-moving, terrestrial amphibian represented by four species of the genus Alytes (family Discoglossidae). The best-known species is A. obstetricans. These western European toads live in forests and often near ponds and streams in open areas. Midwife toads are about 5 cm (2 inches) long and plump, with warty, dull-gray skin.

Midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans).

Ronald Altig/EB Inc.

Midwife toads are nocturnal and thoroughly terrestrial. Toward evening, the males reveal their presence by a clear whistling note. Mating takes place on land and occurs throughout the spring and summer. The eggs are large and yellow, and they are produced in two rosarylike strands of gelatinous capsules. While the eggs are being extruded, the male discharges milt (sperm-containing fluid) over them to effect fertilization. Once he has fertilized the eggs, the male twists the egg strings around his legs and waist and returns to his usual moist retreat. If the weather is exceptionally dry, the male makes periodic trips to moisten the eggs and prevent their dehydration. When the time for hatching arrives, after about three weeks, the male enters the water; the larvae, measuring slightly more than 1.3 cm (0.5 inch), emerge from their egg envelope, which is not abandoned by the male until all the young are liberated.

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Most frogs and salamanders do not show brood care, but there are exceptions. In the European midwife toad the male rather than the female carries the sticky eggs on its hindlimbs. In a number of Neotropical frogs, the male carries the eggs under a flap of skin on its back. In some species, the young (tadpoles) cling to the back of the male by using their sucker-like mouths.

The European midwife toad, Alytes obstetricans, also displays a curious breeding behaviour. Inguinal amplexus takes place on land; at the time of oviposition, the female extends her legs to form a receptacle for the string of 20 to 60 eggs. After fertilizing the eggs, the male moves forward on the back of the female and pushes his legs into the string of eggs until they are...

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common name for Alytes obstetricans, a nocturnal, terrestrial amphibian of western Europe; noted for breeding behavior; plump and slow-moving; about 2 in. (5 cm) long with warty, dull-gray skin; mates on land throughout spring and summer; female extrudes eggs which male fertilizes; male then twists the two rosarylike yellow strands of gelatinous capsules around his legs and goes back to his normal retreat; after 3 weeks he enters the water to let the larvae bite their way through capsules,